There is a group of dedicated volunteers in the Arkansas River Valley committed to helping equip area men and women with job skills and career readiness.

The Christian Woman’s Job Corps (CWJC) began in 2002, and has since trained 171 participants. In 2009, the Christian Men’s Job Corp (CMJC) began, and has trained 16 men.

Program director Nora Earnest said the goal is to teach participants how to get and keep a job. Courses are offered in improving job skills, personal development, computer skills, resume and interview preparation, hairstyling, makeup and more.

Training classes are held twice a year, in April and September. The next session is scheduled for April 1-24, 2014 at Calvary Baptist Church in Dardanelle. The program is funded by community support, the Arkansas River Valley Baptist Association, area churches and volunteers.

Participants do not pay to receive their training.

“This is one of the few trainings you can get that costs them nothing but their time,” CMJC site coordinator Charles Simers said.

Participants are also given access to a professional clothing closet to help them look career-ready. The closest subsists on donations from area churches and individuals.

Many past participants give back to the program by helping out in the kitchen and nursery to help make it possible for others to attend job training. Earnest said she does her best to keep up with as many program alumni as possible. She said Facebook is one of the best ways to keep up with past students.

“They contact me and see what’s going on and let me know what’s happening in their lives,” she said.

Earnest said the program allows people to help themselves and better their lives. While the goal is to help those in need, Earnest said she has been blessed by ministering to the attendees as well.

“We have truly enjoyed it,” she said. “I feel like we have been called out by the Lord to do it.”

CWJC and CMJC can be reached at 280-1746 or at www.cwjcarv.org. Clothes and other donations may be delivered to the Arkansas River Valley Baptist Association at 801 E. 16th St. in Russellville.